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REPORT 



Commissioner of Agriculture 



IMMIGRATION 



STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE, 



(iuVERNOR AXD COUNCIL. 



AUGUST, I8QO. 



MANCHESTER. N. H. : 

JOHN i: . I I, \ k K K . F' (■ I' I I I- PRINTER. 



REPORT 



Commissioner of Agriculture 

AND 

IMMIGRATION 

OF THE 

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE, 

TO THE J^ 

V 

GOVERNOR AND COUNCIL. 

AUGUST, ISQO. 



MANCHESTER, N. H. : 

JOHN B. CLARKE, PUBLIC PRINTER 
1890. 



20 L. 00 



. ^^- 



REPORT 

OF THE 

COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE AND 
IMMIGRATION. 

Concord, August 12, 1890. 

To His Excellency Gov. D. H. Goodell, and the Honorable 
Council : 
A commission was received August 7, 1889, from your hon- 
orable body, authorizing us to carry into effect the law passed 
at the last session of the Legislature entitled "an act for the 
development of the agricultural resources of the State through 
immigrations and other means." Although this measure had 
been passed with great unanimity by both branches of the Legis- 
lature, and had been given universal support by the press and 
citizens generally, it was not an easy matter to decide upon the 
most judicious course to be taken under its provisions. There 
was no precedent to follow, and whatever action might be taken 
could only be regarded by your commissioner as somewhat 
experimental, each step being attended with some hesitancy 
and doubt. During the past few years frequent reference has 
been made to the large number of abandoned farms in the State, 
many possessing advantages superior to occupied farms yielding 
to their occupants and owners profitable and satisfactory returns, 
causing a universal feeling of regret by people of every class and 
profession. In fact it was largely due to the sentiment prevail- 
ing in regard to the abandoned farms that the law was enacted, 



and to secure their re-occupancy have our efforts thus far been 
mainly directed. We herewith submit for your consideration 
the following brief report. 

While we are able to report in detail the various means we 
have employed, it will be impossible to state with any degree of 
exactness the effect upon the prosperity of the State produced by 
the enactment of the law. Not only has the subject been fully and 
favorably discussed by the press of the State, but the same power- 
ful agency outside New Hampshire has been actively interested 
in the work, and newspapers having a national reputation have 
devoted columns of valuable space to animated descriptions of the 
attractions of the Granite State and the advantages of securing 
a home within her borders. Organizations, both agricultural, 
financial, and social have discussed the subject at their gatherings, 
thus giving it the widest possible publicity. Even the reference 
made by a representative from a Western State in debate in the 
halls of Congress indicates the wide-spread notice given to our 
efforts, and doubtless aided in directing attention to these lands. 
In addition to all this, thinking, acting, working farmers from 
one end of the State to the other have been pondering over the 
condition of affairs in our rural towns thus brought to public at- 
tention, and in their minds has developed a desire to know the 
necessary course to be pursued to prevent further depletion of 
the agricultural population. It may be safely asserted that the 
realizing sense of the situation has already led to the beginning 
of a more thoughtful and intelligent system of farming and a 
higher appreciation of the opportunities that surround us. These 
are results that cannot be measured or even indicated by statis- 
tics at the present time. 

As before stated, it was with more or less hesitancy at first that 
we entertained the proposition to advertise to the world that 
within the borders of our beautiful State were hundreds of aban- 
doned farms, but recognizing the business principle that no one 
comes to purchase until he knows what there is for sale, we 
entered upon the work, and at no time have we had any reason 
to regret the course taken. August 24, 18S9, the following cir- 
cular letter was addressed to the selectmen of each town in the 
State, accompanied with a blank for their report : 



STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE. 

office of 
Commissioner of Agriculture and Immigration, 

Concord, August 24, 1889. 

To THE Selectmen' of New Hampshire: 

Gentlenien, — Having been appointed by His Excellency Governor Goodell 
to carry into effect the provisions of a law enacted at the lecent session of 
the Legislature for the " development of the agricultural resources of the State 
through immigration and other means,'' we desire the co-operation and assist- 
ance of the citizens of the State, and especially of the town officers to whom 
this circular letter is addressed. The prime object of the measure is the 
repopulation of the abandoned farms, at the same time expecting to stimulate 
and encourage the business of husbandry in all sections of our State. 

The best course of procedure is not yet fully determined, but it is plainly 
evident that we must first secure a list of the farms in the interest of which 
we are directly working. The selectmen of the towns are therefore requested 
to forward to this office, on the blank inclosed, the name and address of the 
owner of each abandoned farm in their respective towns, on which are 
buildings that would afford a comfortable home for the occupant. Also please 
report on the same blank, as indicated, the estimated acreage of all aban- 
doned farms on which there are no buildings, or none that you consider can 
be made suitable for occupancy at little expense, designating the acreage in 
woodland, pasturage, and tillable or meadow land under the head of mowing 
land. This class would not include any farm that had been abandoned and 
is now being operated by the occupant of an adjoining farm, while those in 
the former class are to be reported whatever their present management may 
be. Also please report the name and address of the owner of any farm 
occupied and for sale, as means may be taken to give some assistance to this 
class, under certain requirements to be hereafter announced. 

We are aware that the law does not make it obligator)' on the part of the 
selectmen to furnish this information, yet we feel sure that your interest in 
the work and in the development of your town and the State will prompt 
you to send the information which is more readily at your command than 
at that of any other citizen of your town. After your report is received' 
carefully prepared blanks will be sent to the owners of the farms asking for 
the necessary facts in making the advantages of the same known. The receipt 
of these reports will enable us to learn the locality where there are the 
greatest number of abandoned farms, and those sections offering the greatest 
inducements to settlers will be visited by the commissioner for the puipose 
of obtaining additional facts necessary for the encouragement of settlements- 
You will occasionally be informed in regard to the work of this department, 
which, we trust, with the assistance and co-operation of the citizens of the 



State, may be successful in turning the attention of people toward our rural 
towns, and in due course of time result in the repopulation and cultivation 
of many abandoned farms. In this work we ask your cordial co-operation. 

N. J. BACHELDER, 

Co7niiiissioiier. 

It will be remeiTibered that the law did not require this inves- 
tigation on the part of the selectmen, and it is only just that we 
here acknowledge their uniform courtesy in replying. Reports 
were received from 212 towns, of which 58 reported no aban- 
doned farms of the class first mentioned, and 154 towns reported 
1,342 abandoned farms with tenantable buildings. 

The number of acres in farms abandoned on which were no 
buildings and not made an adjunct of some adjoining farm was 
small, and the prospect of accomplishing anything in the re-oc- 
cupancy of these lands was not considered sufficiently encour- 
aging to warrant any special effort at the present time. 

Blanks were immediately sent to the address of the owner of . 
each abandoned farm, requiring a reply to stated questions in 
regard to the farm, and the price for which it would be sold. 
The accuracy of the statements made and obligation to sell for 
the price named were to be accompanied in every instance by 
the owner's affidavit before a justice of the peace. Various sec- 
tions of the State were visited, especially those where the greatest 
number of abandoned farms were reported, in order to become 
more familiar with their condition and surroundings. From the 
description of farms received and from observations thus made a 
pamphlet of 103 pages was prepared, containing a map of the 
State and statements in regard to the financial, educational, and 
social advantages of New Hampshire. The adaptability of the 
abandoned farms to various branches of agriculture was discussed 
and special prominence given to their advantages for summer 
homes. A list of 1,300 summer hotels and boarding-houses in 
the State was included in the pamphlet, and statistics given in 
regard to this rapidly increasing New Hampshire industry. A 
complete list of creameries with their location was also included, 
and numerous illustrations of typical New Hampshire scenery. 
An edition of 8,000 copies was published and 6,000 copies have 
been distributed, having been sent to all parts of the United 



9 



States, and even to Canada, England, and Sweden. Over two 
thousand letters of inquiry have been received, and the questions 
therein asked in regard to the abandoned farms of the State have 
been promptly and as fully answered as the information at our 
command would allow. Although a matter of not much impor- 
tance, it may be one of some interest to state where these letters 

came from. The number of inquiries received from the various 

localities is as follows 

California . 

Connecticut 

Florida 

Georgia 

Illinois 

Indiana 

Iowa 

Kansas 

Kentucky . 

Maine 

Maryland . 

Massachusetts 

Michigan . 

Minnesota . 

Missouri 

Nebraska . 

North Dakota 

New Hampshire 

New Jersey 

Following will be found the number of abandoned farms in 
each town reported by the selectmen August 24, 1889, the num- 
ber sold and occupied since the above date, also the number 
which have become occupied by a tenant or the owner in addi- 
tion to those sold. The fourth column represents the total num- 
ber of farms vacant at the passage of this law and now occupied 
by the purchaser, former owner, or tenant. 



6 


New York . 








• 244 


39 


North Carolina 








I 


3 


Ohio . 








28 


I 


Oregon 








• 4 


48 


Pennsylvania 








54 


12 


Rhode Island 








17 


27 


South Dakota 








6 


27 


South Carolina 








I 


I 


Tennessee 








I 


44 


Texas 








2 


34 


Vermont 








90 


975 


Virginia 








4 


36 


West Virginia 








I 


IS 


Wisconsin . 








14 


5 


Washington 








4 


10 


Canada 








30 


8 

J.22 


London (England) 






2 


30 










2.257 



10 



Towns. 



Acworth 

Albany 

Alexandria .. . . . 
AUenstown.. . . 

Alton 

Alstead 

Amherst 

Andover 

Antrim 

Ashland 

Atkinson ■ 

Auburn 

Harrington .... 

Bartlett 

Bath 

Bedford 

Belmont 

Benton. ....... 

Bennington 

Boscawen .... 
Bow . . .. . 

Bradford 

Bridgewater .. . 

Bristol 

Brookline . . ■ . 

Campton 

Candia 

Canterbury. . .. 

Carroll 

Charlestovvn . . . 

Chatham 

Chester 

Chichester 

Center Harbor. 

Claremont 

Cornish 

Columbia 

Croydon 

Dalton 

Danbury 

Deering 

Derry 

Dorchester 

Dummer 

Dunbarton 

Durham 

Easton 

Effingham 

Enfield 

Epping 

Epsom 

Fitzwilliam. . .. 

Franklin 

Freedom 

Fremont 

Goshen 

Gilmanton 

Gilsum 

Granthain 




11 



Towns. 



Greenfield... . 

Greenland 

Greenville 

Grafton 

Groton 

Hampstead . . . 

Hancock 

Harrisville 

Hebron 

Henniker 

Hill 

Hillsborough . . 

Hollis 

Holderness. . . . 
Hopkinton .. . . 

Hudson 

Jaffrey 

Kensington . . 

Landafi 

Lebanon 

Lee 

Lempster 

Lisbon 

Litchfield 

Littleton 

Londonderry.. . 

Loudon 

Lyman 

Lyme 

Lyndeborough . 

Madison 

Marlow 

Marlborough ... 

Meredith 

Merrimack . • . . 

Middleton 

Milan 

Milton 

Mont Vernon. . 

Nelson 

Newport 

Newbury 

New Boston.. . 
New Durham.. 
New London.. 
Newmarket. • . . 

Nevvington 

New Ipswich. . 

Northfield 

Orford 

Orange 

Ossipee 

Peterborough . . 

Plainfield 

Plymouth 

Pierniont 

Pittsfield 

Richmond 

Rindge 




5 


7 


I 


3 




2 


5 


7 


2 


4 


3 


5 




2 


3 


I 

4 


3 


S 



tofC 



12 



Towns. 


"Si . 

m 

c " 

rt t; - 

•So? 

■^ . 

o g a 

in 


Number of abandoned 
farms sold and re-oc- 
cupied from Aug. 24, 
1889, to Aug. 12, 1890. 


Number of abandoned 
farms re-occupied by 
tenant or owner, but 
not sold, from Aug. 24, 
i88g, to Aug. 12, 1890. 


Total number of aban- 
doned farms vacant 
Aug. 24, 1889, and re- 
occupied Aug. I 2, 
1 890. 




5 
14 

6 
9 

12 

3 

20 

S 

II 
t 

14 
5 
7 
6 

13 

iS 
3 
8 

14 
8 
4 

II 

II 

2 

6 
17 
5 
7 
II 
II 
7 
7 
4 
II 


2 

2 

2 

2 
2 

4 

2 


2 

2 
I 

5 
6 

I 
2 

4 

3 

I 
2 




















Sandown 


2 
2 




2 






















Sunapee 


3 
5 
















5. 












Walnnlp 




Wakefield 








Warren 


2 


Weare 


5 


Webster 








4 


Wilmot 


Wilton 


3 
















Totals 


1,342 


141 


160 


301 





13 

Gratifying as these facts may be, they are doubly increased in 
significance when we consider that the class of people purchasing 
and renting these farms is generally such as appreciates the grand 
scenery, healthy climate, and association with an intelligent class 
of people, for all of which New Hampshire has become noted. 
Those farms which have become occupied for agricultural pur- 
poses are mainly taken by Americans, and we believe they will 
have the energy and ability to succeed. A large number of these 
farms have become occupied by city people to whom a home in 
the country has been a fond anticipation for many years, and 
it is needless to say that they will find in a New Hampshire farm 
all the opportunities for gratifying any worthy desire in establish- 
ing a home for comfort, health, or pleasure. They come, not 
to make money but to spend it, and fortunate indeed will it be 
for the State when the unsold abandoned farms are utilized by 
this class of people. We are informed from creditable sources 
that the summer-boarding business was never so large in the State 
as it is the present season, and it is not unreasonable to suppose 
that the wide-spread attention recently called to the attractions 
of New Hampshire has had some effect in this direction. We 
believe that the appreciation, both at home and abroad, of New 
Hampshire's advantages which has surely resulted from the enact- 
ment of this law, can be strengthened and extended by a liberal 
policy on the part of the State until the capacity of our summer 
hotels and boarding-houses will need to be doubled, and no aban- 
doned farm worth any one's attention need be without occupants. 
Respectfully submitted. 

N. J. BACHELDER, 

Commissioner. 



16 1900 



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